After meeting with Craig Oster and Don Meehan of Newport Sports (who represent Kane) on Wednesday, Cheveldayoff spent roughly two hours with agent Allan Walsh of Octagon to discuss a new deal with goalie Ondrej Pavelec.

As the rumour mill swirls around the status of negotiations with Winnipeg Jets restricted free agents Evander Kane and Ondrej Pavelec, the general manager continued to keep his cards close to the vest.

“Negotiations are ongoing for both of those players and there are other potential players within our organization on the UFA that we’re negotiating with as well,” said Cheveldayoff. “I’m always optimistic. Last year at this point and time, I never had the opportunity to meet with any of the RFAs representatives. We’ve been able to get a jump on that and things turned out pretty well last year.”

Walsh politely declined comment.

Money is believed to be the stumbling block the negotiations with Pavelec, who is weighing a one-year offer to play in for SKA St. Petersberg in the Kontinental Hockey League in the neighbourhood of $5 million per season.

The Jets and Pavelec have yet to nail down the dollar value or the term of the deal.